﻿Iraqi Commander Says 300 IS Terrorists Holed Up in Mosul

An external view of Mosul’s main hospital complex shows damage after it was retaken by Iraqi forces during fighting against Islamic State terrorists, in Mosul, Iraq, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

MOSUL, Iraq (AP) - An Iraqi commander says he believes some 300 Islamic State terrorists remain in the small patch of territory still controlled by the group in Mosul’s Old City.

Lt. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of Iraq’s special forces said Wednesday that the militants are confined to a 600-square-yard area.

He spoke the day after Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi congratulated the armed forces on a “big victory” in Mosul, despite ongoing clashes.

IS captured Mosul in a matter of days when it swept across northern and central Iraq in the summer of 2014. Iraqi forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition launched a major operation to retake the city in October.